The transfer portal is officially open! As news pours in, I’m going to update this list with the latest departures and additions. Simply refresh during the offseason:
Players who announced they are entering the transfer portal (click the link to see their social media announcement):
Total (21):
OL Reese Tripp (committed to Middle Tennessee State)
Punter Caleb McGrath (committed to North Dakota State)
WR Kenric Lanier (committed to Missouri)
QB Jackson Kollock (committed to UC Davis)
DB Ethan Carrier (committed to South Dakota)
DB Harrison Brun (committed to South Dakota)
WR Legend Lyons (committed to Montana)
RB Fame Ijeboi, per Hayes Fawcett (committed to Purdue)
WR Malachi Coleman, per Ryan Burns (committed to Wisconsin)
Punter Brody Richter (committed to New Mexico State)
LB Drew Wilson (committed to Lafayette)
CB Za’Quan Bryan (committed to South Florida)
OL Kahlee Tafai (committed to California)
DL Steven Curtis (committed to North Texas)
CB Jaylen Bowden (committed to East Carolina)
Safety Koi Perich, per Pete Thamel of ESPN (committed to Oregon)
RB Tre Berry (committed to Tennessee State)
RB Johann Cardenas (left the program in August)
Incoming transfers who are committed to the Gophers (19):
Liberty QB Michael Merdinger, per Pete Nakos. (Read my Merdinger analysis piece by clicking here).
Purdue RB Jaron Thomas, per Matt Zenitz. (Read my Thomas analysis piece by clicking here)
Tennessee OT Bennett Warren (read my Warren analysis piece by clicking here)
Eastern Michigan EDGE/LB Andrew Marshall (read my Marshall analysis piece by clicking here)
Marshall DT Naquan Crowder (read my Crowder analysis piece by clicking here).
Southwest Minnesota State DB Parker Knutson (read my Knutson analysis piece by clicking here)
Auburn WR Perry Thompson (ready by Thompson analysis piece by clicking here)
Michigan State transfer DBs Aydan and Elisha West (read my analysis piece by clicking here)
Michigan kicker Beckham Sunderland (read my Sunderland analysis piece by clicking here)
Lehigh safety Mekhai Smith (read my Smith analysis piece by clicking here)
Kicker/punter Zachary Robbins (read my Robbins analysis piece by clicking here)
California EDGE TJ Bush Jr. (read my Bush Jr. analysis piece by clicking here)
Oklahoma TE Kaden Helms (read by Helms analysis piece by clicking here)
Cincinnati WR Noah Jennings (read my Jennings analysis piece by clicking here)
Tulsa WR Zion Steptoe (read my Steptoe analysis piece by clicking here)
Florida International DT Xion Chapman (read my Chapman analysis piece by clicking here)
Elon RB TJ Thomas Jr. (read my Thomas Jr. analysis piece by clicking here)
Marshall DT Sid Kaba (read my Sid Kaba analysis piece by clicking here)
Coaching Staff Changes (5):
Minnesota dismissed defensive line coach Dennis Dottin-Carter, per Pete Thamel of ESPN
Minnesota analyst Kevin Kane is leaving the Gophers to become Purdue’s new defensive coordinator, per Matt Zenitz
Minnesota will not retain special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky, per Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press.
Running backs coach Jayden Everett is set to leave Minnesota and become the Wisconsin Badgers’ new running backs coach, per Ryan Burns of 24/7 Sports.
Minnesota will not retain wide receivers coach Matt Simon, according to Ryan Burns of 24/7 Sports.
Coaching Staff Hires (9):
Gophers rush ends coach C.J. Robbins will coach the defensive line unit in 2026, per Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press.
Minnesota is expected to hire Bobby April III as its new rush ends coach, per Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press. You can read my analysis of the hire by clicking here.
Minnesota is set to hire Isaac Fruechte (current North Dakota offensive coordinator) as wide receivers coach, Mohamed Ibrahim (current Kent State running backs coach) as running backs coach, Daniel Da Prato (current New Mexico special teams coordinator) as special teams coordinator and Travis Moore (current Northern Illinois defensive line coach) as assistant defensive line coach, according to Andy Greder. You can read about the backgrounds of each new coach by checking out my piece.
The Gophers are set to hire Charlotte safeties coach Bryan Nardo as a defensive assistant, per Football Scoop. Nardo has previous experience as a defensive coordinator during stints with Emporia State (2012-19) and Oklahoma State (2023-24). Minnesota also hired Matt Limegrover as assistant offensive line coach and Caleb Richardson as offensive line assistant. Read more about Nardo, Limegrover and Richardson by clicking here.
